Very Hipster Scum

Long Exposure

2010-07-30T00:59:00.002-04:00

Photographer, Michael Wesley, specializes in long exposures... like 3 year long exposures. These above are photos are the building of the Moma museum in New York. The photos are all really haunting and kind of look like the composite digital-analog images they're always emphasizing in class. Super cool!

link

The Kiss aka Daddy and Me

2010-07-29T23:59:00.002-04:00

I don't know about you but a title like this had be running away at first. Even while reading it during lunch and on the train I purposefully hid the book's title while embarrassingly showing its pages with HUGE font. It just sounds like a less than Nora Roberts saad sad attempt at a romance novel. Only after reading the book do I recognize the importance of the title, but truthfully I still wouldn't have chosen that one- it just doesn't peak my curiousity. But the story oh what a story.

Delightfully indecent! Young Katie lives with the most dysfunctional of families. An overbearing disapproving mother and a manipulative grandmother guide her into a nervous bulimic lifestyle, while her minister father, who has been living with another family all her life comes in and our of her life until finally deciding to stay in and becoming dangerously close. And so begins their extended obsessive love affair with one another. A single kiss of the book's namesake sparks their truly tortured relationship. OK but the truth? I'm SO sick of these books of tortured past that lead to empowerment. I'm a cynic I get it but this book in particular was blah.

So many things I didn't like about this book. To be absolutely frank... she just sounds like another whiner. That is absolutely inappropriate to talk about her story in such a way I know, but I didn't find any range of emotions in this book. Truthfully I don't know if that makes it any less of a book but just personally it didn't do it for me. Too much whining... too much 'please feel bad for me'. Something about her detailing every moment of her sad 25 years of life bores me. But maybe that's just me I'm more easy to pity resilient characters that can look back on their experiences with at least a smirk. She's a great writer though and I enjoyed following her poetry as well as her story. It just didn't leave me exclaiming 'hallelujah everyone needs to read this', like I usually leave a good book.

But god twisted twisted story... not as twisted as the next book on my list In Youth is Pleasure recommended by John Waters himself. Now that's what I call twisted.

John Waters- Role Models

2010-07-24T17:24:00.003-04:00

John Waters was first introduced to me by Drew. It was actually probably the first day I met him that he invited me over to his room after work for a lil get together with the other counselors (we were in training to be counselors at a pre-college program)... naughty naughty. A few introductions, a few drinks, and there we were all huddled around a small computer watching Pink Flamingoes. I was paralyzed in shock that such a movie existed! Chickens getting fucked, trannies eating dog poop, hitchhikers getting abducted and raped to produce children sold to lesbian couples- it was absolutely brilliant! And from the disgusted looks of a solid 90% of the room, I knew who I would have to censor myself in front of, and who wouldn't budge if I cranked myself up to 100.

Since I've been trying to see as many of John Waters's (http://www.english-zone.com/spelling/possessives.html RULE 4.... I don't want to fight with anyone ever again about this) films and read as many of his books. I want to imbibe all things John Waters.

So of course when I saw this I ran for it. Sadly I can neither find it at any library nor can I afford to buy it meaning the only way for me to read those delicious words is to show my pathetic face at Strand after work day after day reading a chapter or so til I finish. But I'd like to believe John would be proud of me and would delight in my behavior.

So the book. It follows its namesake, Role Models is about the different people in Waters's life who influenced him. And just seeing the different things he has produced and the ideas storming in his head, I could imagine his role models were going to be more colorful people but it's even better than I expected! From Johnny Mathis, to a lesbian stripper in a Baltimore bar, to one of the members of the Manson family, his relationships with his role models are so genuine and show a really human side of him that is so so endearing. I've fallen even deeper in love with John Waters...uh oh.

Stumbling Upon Happiness

2010-06-23T21:44:00.003-04:00

There are a few questions always brewing in my mind. Always always. If you've spoken to me for longer than 2 hours you've probably heard my 20 minute bit about altruism. The other BIG question is what makes people happy... i mean universally.

As always Daniel Gilbert pulled through and wrote a book... Stumbling Upon Happiness.

I first met Gilbert through a TED talk that blew me away. I guess what's nice about seeing someone lecture before reading their book is you get a sense of the author's voice, mannerisms, and in some aspects their personality. So I fell in love is what happened. He gave a fantastic lecture about how our psychological immune system is constantly working to make us happy. So when I saw the book I nabbed it and was done in a day or two. He was described as a mix between Malcolm Gladwell and David Sedaris by critic and I think that's a perfect description. Surely it was very informative with graphs, cited experiments, and all that good stuff, but it was also very very very funny.

I can say without a doubt that this book probably changed my life or at the very least how I think.

Summary: Chill out... be happy cuz your body wants you to be. (wow that completely strips the book bear and makes it sound useless to read but trust me very very very useful)

Murakami=Gehry? Say It Ain't So!

2010-06-23T21:24:00.003-04:00

I've been reading like a MAD woman these past weeks because for once I have time and my daily two+ hours of commuting provides the perfect time to. Surely there were a few books that were life changing but this needed to be posted because reading Haruki Murakami's latest, What I Think About When I Think About Running made me so so so sad.

And not in the typical 'oh my god I think I'm going through another existential crisis thank god someone understands me in this world' type of sad that I'm usually thrown into after reading one of his books. Mostly a 'wow I've been duped' sad. Why you ask? Murakami seems like an arrogant Gehry-esque toolbag that likes to talk about how modest and innovative he is!

Surely arrogance never hindered someone from being a successful writer, architect, or musician (I'm looking at you Amadeus, Chris Martin, Gehry, KANYE WEST), but I'd like to imagine one of my favorite writer being a feeble dreamy man that's shy, intelligent, and likes to listen.

Summary: I'm better than everyone else. I conquer things better and more frequently than anyone else. I'm great at running. I'm great at writing. Everyone loves me.

Damn you Murakami! Way to crush my dreams of the mysterious warm-hearted man that peers at me from the jacket cover of many a books.

BIKINI KILL and riot grrrls

2010-04-11T22:10:00.003-04:00

The new obsession of the month I suppose. Of course I'm a sucker for feminist, all powerful women shit like this. It's all about solidarity and independence and not having to apologize for anything. It's great!

Here's a cute lil article that sums up a lot of my feelings about the riot grrrl movement

Andrew Freear

2010-04-05T20:58:00.003-04:00

I just saw a lecture at school by Andrew Freear and it was the spark I needed to restart this blog . What an incredible guy! From what I can tell he is exactly what I aspire to become. An architect that designs with a social conscience. I guess that's something all architects are taught to do but it seems his whole being goes into building for the common good. He would be a fantastic burner if he isn't already and someone that explanations for good are unnecessary. It takes a very special someone to transplant themselves to a rural alabama town of 200 people to simply better their conditions.

Drool drool drool enough said.

On a side more philosophical note, I'm always so surprised or suspicious people are of those who give. Freear mentioned the residents' skepticism when given free modifications to the homes which reminded me of my experience with MadHatters in Alabama. Similarly homeless people wouldn't accept free homes, thinking we were tricking them. Well before I start spilling my guts on my philosophy... peace.

2010-01-09T00:48:00.001-05:00

Charlie Le Mindu

2010-01-08T13:37:00.003-05:00

Old news in the world of fashion, again new for the blog.
Hair hair hair hair hair hair hair.

More importantly Gaga's hair. Love or hate her she undeniably made a splash last year and her hair was absolutely ridiculous. And her styled wigs were more often than not the masterpieces of Charlie Le Mindu. He did three or so of the Bad Romance hairstyles and get this- he's only 23. Add him to the long list of people who make me feel unaccomplished.

link to Charlie's site

Fat-Bottomed Girls

2010-01-08T00:44:00.006-05:00

WHOAH Karl Langerfeld did a big girl shoot for V magazine's plus size issue! He hates fat people! And oh damn! Girl looks good! link

Lots of these big people shoots but honestly most of them make these women look awwful:
Who wears this?? And of all places to show skin...tummy? I hate to fall into society's trap but, skinny is seeexxy. And I think it's pretty hard to make big look good but psh if anyone's gonna do it I suppose it would be Karl.

Piano Teacher

2010-01-08T00:37:00.002-05:00

Flashback: The Piano Teacher

One of the most insane movies I've seen in a long time. I'm completely lost on where to begin and where to end.

There's a piano teacher.
She's into S+M.
Shit starts with her 17-year old student.
Shit get wild.

The story is unpredictable and will leave you with a gaping mouth. Those two characteristics alone should be enough for you to watch this movie.

Let's Get Some Mugs!

2010-01-08T00:19:00.006-05:00

Clear mugs for hot drinks... is this a trend? I remember seeing this once and thinking it looked so chic! ... the point? I got a pair even though my cabinets are exploding with muugs.

Also I'm on the lookout for gold mugs like these:
Again I'd drink anything out of theses cups! Wow... has this blog degraded from enlightenment to the material goods I'd like to gather? Fine by me. In all seriousness though, I got into with Gabi that's pushed me to want to decorate my home. I mean we're spending so much time in these spaces... they should make you feel good

Christopher Kane

2010-01-08T00:09:00.004-05:00

Fashion Bla Bla

I'm lucky enough to live in arguably the greatest city in the world- NYC. I didn't get the hype growing up here but after having lived and visited multiple other cities around the world I get it. Sure it's a cliche but where else in the world will you find this beautiful hodge podge of people, foods, sites... inspiration (barf).

Anywho, the point of the story is I made my first purchases at Topshop after many empty-handed visits. Needless to say SALE SALE SALE

TADA It's Mine! It's Christopher Kane for Topshop. Old news in the blogosphere but new in phyllisosphere!! So you either love it or hate it but goddamnit this is gorge! Eyes where the titties go and mouth for the cooch. I am currently wearing it to bed- a bit obsessed yes. But IT'S CHRISTOPHER KANE and IT'S MINE and IT'S FABULOUS!

Dipped Things

2010-01-08T00:01:00.002-05:00

Back again for a buttload to unload ... firstly dipped things.

Gabe loves clay and has explained a miniscule amount of it to be... but just enough for me to think "ooo gabe" whenever I see something I like in clay. So of course when I read about this artists who dips doilies in porcelain it got me thinking. Imagine the possibilites! Wireform... lace... anything with super intricate details submerged in something that will eventually solidify???
That's right... that's porcelain!

link

McQueenie Queen

2009-11-29T14:42:00.002-05:00

Ok I get it, the entire world loves Alexander McQueen and I've done so many past post drooling over McQueen BUT
I LOVE ALEXANDER MCQUEEN!

I guess I can only critique fashion just like any other art form from an architect's persepective but damn. He designs a completely alternative world and he fits every stitch to fit this world. His runway shows are spectacular and he has the ability much like h.g. giger to make the grotesque beautiful. Ok enough of my half-awake babble. You decide for yourself.

Holiday For a Friend

2009-11-23T11:18:00.000-05:00

Holiday
For a Friend

The conduits and symbols of love will fill
and empty in step with the wink of our tongue;
neurons will burst open as your spinal cord twists
into a tesla coil, the walls of the temple shrine

unraveling. There will be only words, spoken
in morse code, in dots and dashes, images
and photoreels, taste and sound underwhelming
in their edict, their muddled signs and prophesy.

We will hawk for Oligarchs, haunt cylindrical thought
for fun; euthanize desire with the static emanating
from our fingertips; taste, then spit up, philosophy
and beliefs, live like nothing, like nothing at all.

And I will hang your hopes like a cowbell
about my neck, the sun growing jealous
of our foreheads & we will forget who we are
or why it mattered. Let the temper of this air

leave you breathless, the sentence of this moment become
your nothingness. Do not deal in prayer
or petals of ash, dim when compared
to their counterparts. Embrace only the moon

drawing static along the bottom curve of my iris,
the blood siphoned from beneath our tongue, the mercury
marking what’s left, fossilized points and lines.
Abandon the fuel, the reality that tethers you,

unclothe, delineate, go mad, magnify the architecture
of empty space, my palmprint; set loose the funnel
of crows in your throat, let my carcass of iron torture
your compass needle, and you will have your holiday.

-Austin Moyer

The Thing about Daul Kim

2009-11-23T10:55:00.003-05:00

The world and particularly the blogosphere has been in mourning over the death of Daul Kim. She was the darling of the fashion world, supposedly Karl Lagerfeld's new muse. I guess what caught my eye really more than anything else are the so many similarities that Daul and I have. Ok I guess these are just chance coincidences and not something completely out of the ordinary. So we're both depressed Korean chick artists with blogs, roughly 5'10", sharing the same surname, and born three days apart.

That's enough to peak my interest. The first thought that rushed through my head is damn, she's done a lot more in her years on the earth than I have. I mean she's left a legacy and a fan base behind and damn she's done well with that bod of hers. And secondly, if the stars were aligned differently... could that have been me?

Fashion What?

2009-11-18T05:06:00.004-05:00

Let's be serious, my fashion sense involves whatever the fuck I want and at times things that will make me laugh. Well I guess it goes a little beyond that and I do think of composure and fit and smaller things that no one else will ever notice. And it really depends on the day sometimes I feel like being Ms. On-a-boat JCrew with with lots of hot white... and other days i'm a rockstar.. As a kid I told myself when I was living independent of my parents I would eat just as I pleased and dress just as I pleased. Today: Asparagus, hotsauce, pasta with eggplant marinara + mohair plaid sweater, grey jeans, cowboyish boots ...

Anyway the point of all this? I've become obsessed reader of the regular blogs i.e. sartorialist and jakandjil for their HAWT clean looks buuttt just recently began to enjoy the chaos of certain other bloggers:

http://moohoop.livejournal.com/
WOWza... a stark contrast to everything I've been seeing and liking. In theory I guess this shouldn't be anything I really like. Sure I looove crazy accessories and I wear quite a few shocking numbers but this girl has it going on! Brooke is a design student in the district and she gets it. I've never been one bold enough to do so many layers or mix SO many patterns but she rocks. Maybe it's her bangin bod? I really don't get it because it's nothing I've ever really been drawn to this look I mean but I couldn't help but spend an hour yesterday trying to read every single one of her entries. She's goddamn fierce and I think my new muse.

and

http://tavi-thenewgirlintown.blogspot.com/

So this is the kinda thing that makes me think 'what have i been doing with my life?'. This 13-year old writer is more fluent in fashion than anyone else I can think of at the top of my head and someone that my 13-year self would have dressed like ... (if I weren't the normal self-conscious MustFitIn 13-year old girl). Other than being awesome fashion blog, I love that hers is kinda angsty...something I can still very much relate with.

Lots of thanksgiving reading material! Love having found these people.

You may all call my crazy, but looK! I've found some crazies that relate!

Comics and Zine Binge

2009-11-04T10:54:00.002-05:00

The stack of comic books has been ever decreasing and I only have a pair left so here are noteworthy ones:

Doris 15: The Anti-Depression Guide

This one really hit close to home and truthfully I don't know how entertaining it would be for someone that hasn't gone through depression but boy was this one fantastic. I was at first reluctant to pick it up because it was so obviously a zine bound at home by some unknown artist with scraggly writing and equally scraggly drawings but thank god I did. Cindy Crabb is a wonderful angsty writer that I loved reading. I liked her take on the disease and the way she didn't try to forcefeed the same old bullshit I hear all the time on staying calm and blah blah blah. real advice for real people

Skim

Asian girl who's depressed, in a relationship with an older woman teacher... great

Black Hole

2009-11-03T16:26:00.003-05:00

Thanks to Merri, in my room lies a thick stack of graphic novels that are slowly being read. Last night's read was the infamous Black Hole, which I've been meaning to get at for a while now and holy shit was it awesome. Disturbing storyline... awesome graphics. A +++ I was thinking of how this could possibly be translated into a movie or a book or anything because it has so many deeper elements and truly i don't think it can be. It is the perfect graphic novel because it cannot be anything else. In a rush but more to come...

wiki:
Set in the suburbs of Seattle during the mid-1970s, the comics follow a group of mostly middle class teenagers who, over the summer, contract a mysterious sexually transmitted disease known as "the Bug" or "the teen plague", which causes them to develop bizarre unique physical mutations, turning them into social outcasts.

Antony Hegarty

2009-11-02T11:37:00.002-05:00

The past year, my iPod has been chock full of "catchy work music" with deep bass and hypnotic rhythm but more recently I've become more obsessed with individual artists ok ok just one artist but i needed SOME sort of segue right?

ANTONY HEGARTY

drooool! First man to go under the Bjork/ Joanna Newsome of haunting voices. Not to be over dramatic but listening to him is painfully good.

Jiddu Krishnamurti

2009-11-02T11:12:00.003-05:00

Reading the the things I have in the last few weeks has done wonders for me so that's something I will try to continue between the hours of sketching and rendering. My most recent obsessesion: Jiddu Krishnamurti, a philosopher/speaker/writer, who oozes profundity. I guess I'm still learning about him so I'm no expert yet but his words excite me!

"It's no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society."

-Krishnamurti

Currently Reading

2009-10-26T11:21:00.002-04:00

There's no doubt I've always loved to read but it's been a while since I've fallen head over heels over a particular author/genre. Sad, Angry, inconsolable, and unwilling to be consoled, his characters are I guess very predictable but I can't stop myself! I'm always most intrigued by stories are ideas that make me wonder 'how could any human being even think this up'... and I guess Murakami's mystical worlds make me think so that. ... ... And if nothing else, reading Murakami is like getting a pat on the back from the genius himself reassuring me that it's ok to be a freak.

Currently reading: Norwegian Wood

The Wind-Up Bird Chronicles
South of the Border, West of the Sun
Kafka on the Shore
Cannot recommend him enough!

Haruki Murakami

2009-10-07T00:33:00.002-04:00

South of the Border West of the Sun

I know that when I read a story I get over involved with the characters leading me to think that I am somehow related but this story more than any other I've read recently really rung. On a difficult and lonely day it provided comfort and solace to think that anyone could possibly be thinking or feeling what I am, even if it is a fictional character. Today nothing could have been better.

Yo La Tengo

2009-08-19T12:36:00.004-04:00

Yea they may be old news but my growing obsession for them is something new eh? Also it needs to be noted... these classy folks are all jersey!

Cubes

2009-08-13T12:15:00.003-04:00

After one semester of nothing but cubes you'd think it's the last thing in the world I'd be posting about this artist has kept popping up in blogs I read so I thought I'd highlight him:

aakash nihalani

all just simple clean line trompe l'oeil tape drawings but still pretty intriguing.

Graphic!

2009-08-06T21:00:00.003-04:00

I've been trying to catch up on some reading this summer... but trying to digest Robert Venturi while the sun is beaming so happily is... impossible. So instead I've upgraded to graphic novels. No, comics... that's what they are. Marjane Satrapi said calling them by any other name was just adult foolishness. They're exactly what I needed though. I don't want nor feel any need to be spending my day at the park toiling over a sentence for hours. The comics I've been reading are far from Family Circus and often have complex themes that are awesome!

Here's a few of more recent goodies:

Epileptic
I could weird relate to the main character who's little brother (if it isn't obvious enough) has epilepsy and whose parents go all over the world trying a million and one little things to try to cure him. I guess the only relation is the obsession with homeopathy and weird hocus pocus.

Only Skin
I'm only on the third one but these are pretty damn interesting so far... chronicling the mysterious dissapearances of citizens of a small town...

The Ticking
AH this is my finding nemo. By this I mean it is the type of sappiness and life lesson that I absolutely love. This was so dark but so sweet at the same time... a rarity. This is a story of a boy born with a deformity and exiled to a life alone. gaaaaa I wept a silent tear for this story and somehow also related to the main character in a strange way.

La Perdida
blegh... ok so it's another coming of age story and truthfully I'm goddamn sick and tired of those... Woman wants to identify with her mexican heritage so takes a voyage there... lots of adventures blah blah BUT ... BUT it's in goddamn mexico city. And if you know anything about it.. it's that I'm in love with that city so it was cool to see this womans adventures that were so similar to my one week this summer

currently: I'm still munchin on some good poetry which weirdly is similar to complex writing in that a single line can take hours to digest but it's just so much better... b.c. it's not about architecture haha... also I was recommended the painted bird which I'm excited about b.c. I was told the story behind the title which I think is fascinating:

The book title was drawn from an incident within its content. The boy, while in the company of a professional bird catcher, observes how the man took one of his captured birds and painted it several colors. Then he released the bird to fly in search of a flock of its kin, but when it came upon them, they saw it as an intruder and tore at the bird until it fell from the sky.

peace

Good Recipes

2009-08-06T20:49:00.002-04:00

So food has been the center of my world for all my life but particularly these few past weeks of silence. So here are some awesome recipes. Super simple because we all know complex recipes will make my head explode.

Whipped Dip
1 can refried beans
1-2 cups pico de gallo

mix and serve with corn tortillas

Pico de Gallo
1 tomato
1 onion
1 jalepeno
some cilantro, garlic, salt, lime

YUMYUM tea
4 cups tea
3 cups apple juice
5ish table spoons honey
some broken mint leaves

My life... so delicious!

Walt Whitman

2009-07-22T22:15:00.003-04:00

I'm agnostic but I've recently found my equivalent to the Bible in poetry. I've had my share of torturous days in English class... and hours spent translating French Lit... but I never appreciated any of it really til I read it independently. School kills everything. Plus doesn't reading poetry sound so romantic!

A Clear Night

This is thy hour o soul, thy free flight into the wordless
Away from books, away from art, the day erased, the lesson done,
Thee fully forth emerging, silent, gazing, pondering the themes thou lovest best.
Night, sleep, and the stars.

"I've never let my school interfere with my education"- Mark Twain

Clothes Disguised

2009-07-12T15:21:00.003-04:00

If you know anything about me, you know how much I love my circle scarf and the 209 different ways it can be worn. It is almost impossible to see me without this dumb piece of fabric somehow incorporated into an outfit. Believe it or not, I first bought the circle scarf because I was walking the streets of New York and it was getting a bit chilly. It has now become an unhealthy obsession.
Anyway I've recently begun doing reusing my clothes in different ways and many times being pleasantly surprised. Yesterday when I was wearing tights a bit too tight I got out my black tank top, tucked in the straps and had an instant mini skirt. The other night I needed a new outfit so started playing around with an old black jersey wrap dress I had an converted it into this crazy awesome hipster dress... perhaps pics in future posts? Pretty much this has become the greatest realization of the week and I thought it was necessary for me to share it. Peace

Uninspired

2009-07-01T10:51:00.002-04:00

Sorry for the lack of posting but I've been feeling uninspired lately. Maybe I'm just numb to the awesomeness that is our world.

Perhaps this is completely irrelevant but my latest obsession is Zumba. Now don't laugh but... it's an exercise class that combines excercise with dance. For someone like myself that has little or no coordination... this class is great! (I convinced myself I was born to dance after Zumba and went to dance West African style.... wow I am a fool)

Ha and Zumba's tagline? "Ditch the workout, join the party"

Mexican Cuisine

2009-06-18T22:26:00.006-04:00

Unbelievable! Mexico City was as planned, one of the most affordable places to visit. Entire meals that included appetizers and drinks totaled to less than 5USD! And let me tell you... each meal was incredible. Here I'll list the best of... for the next time you're in mexico city.

1. Chilaquiles

It's a simple dish of tortillas cooked and topped with salsa/mole, cheese, and refried beans (sometimes other goodies too). Traditionally the "hangover cure", I ate this sucker a lot just because it's so darn good!

2. Tacos el Pastor

According to wiki:
Usually pork, it is marinated over one or two days with a blend of different chili peppers, spices and herbs (such as adobo), and then slowly cooked on a vertical rotisserie called a Trompo (lit: spinning top), often with a pineapple on top.^[3] The juice from the pineapple contains an enzyme called bromelain, which breaks down protein and makes the meat very tender. When ready, the meat is then thinly sliced off the spit with a large knife.
Wow... just wow the lightest meat with just a touch of pineapple that is again only a buck or two just amazing!

3. Pozole This traditional Aztec soup in my opinion trumps any other soup in my opinion. It was traditionally made from human meat but obviously now it is substituted with other meats. It's this crazy mix of cabbage, oregano, radish, and lime. Aldo's grandmother made the one I tasted and it was the perfect combination of tastes I still remember it mmm.

4. Churros
Thanks to my guidebook Marketa and I found ourselves at this awesome churro place where we took a break to have delicious churros and Mexican hot chocolate. I'm drooling just thinking of how good they were. The milk also in the Mexican chocolate was so thick and delicious too. Probably the richest milk chocolate I've ever had and trust me... I am a hot chocolate expert!

5. FRUITS
Mangos... Tuna... Watermelon... Limes
WOW!!!... Any street corner will have a vendor selling fruits like these and they are the most incredible tasting in the world! Maybe I'm just used to America's engineered fruits and vegetables but these were obscenely delicious!!! aaaa

Hola Amigos

2009-06-14T00:28:00.002-04:00

Hello from Mexico City! It has only been officially three days and I think I am in love. (I will use zero contractions because I cannot seem to find the right buttons on this darn keyboard).

Things I will rave and dedicate entire blog entries to in the future

1. foods... chilaquila... tacos el pasor... churros... bosole?... the milk... the fruit... gaaaa
2. the metro... so clean... so quick...so safe... IDIOT proof and great great design... oh and it costs 2 pesos per ride... yes les than 20 cents to get from one side of mexico city to the next... WOW
3. Centro Historico... absolutely beautiful
4. Coyocaun... beware all my designs will reference coyocaun from now on haha... I stopped at every house to sit and drool
5. EVERY church and park...
6. the streets styled after champs elysses
7. the hostel + the people I have become friends with
8. the social classes and clashes
9. Being asian in a city of brown
10. Torre Latinamericano... the most outrageous views of the city
11. Frida + Diego ... yea yea yea
12. Zocalo

I guess this is more a reminder to myself... I will be waking up in six hours or so to climb Teotihuacan and the Angel of Guadeloupe

ooo and best of all I saw the koreans and gays that I was supposed to in Zona Rosa ha

Buenas Noches

Mexico CIty

2009-06-10T09:05:00.003-04:00

I'm off in a few hours to Mexico City and cannot wait to come back/report my findings. I can't wait to see the pyramids and Centro Historico. It'll be my first experience really exploring a city alone and hopefully it'll be a good start to my solo world tour. Hasta luego? Wow not a word of spanish in my vocabulary...hope I get back in one piece.

Viva Mexico!

Tom Shannon anti-grav sculptures

2009-06-05T01:00:00.003-04:00

I thought kinetic sculpture was intense until I saw this guy on Ted. Not one of the most pleasant people to watch (he gasps for air every three seconds when he speaks), but nothing less than awesome. Like Jansen, art is science and science is art. At first glance all I see is "cool shit". It's even cooler when you see some of these floating about but when you hear what's he's doing with all this is even cooler. He's envisioned floating islands in the middle of the ocean with their own source of fresh water... or cities unlike those of archigram that can move from location to location replicating their environments smoothly. Now he's working on pendulums to create art.

Don't take my word for it hear him speak!

more art

his site

David Sedaris

2009-06-03T02:42:00.004-04:00

I met him.

What a week huh? Davey was promoting the release of the soft-cover of When You're Engulfed in Flames at Strand today... so of course I patiently stood in the rain for an hour or so to hear that dawwling voice. He read some entries from his diary and of course the very white, very liberal, very hipster crowd was tickled silly. Sedaris was super patient with each person he met and made small talk every time ... handed out condoms... told people to have sex (but only in the butt b.c. he doesn't want to be held responsible for people l0sing their virginities... "it doesn't count if you can't see it")... We talked about Chip Kidd and he wrote that note for me. Hilarious to the last moment... for Gabi's he wrote "i'm glad you're alive". Wish I could say more but exhausted

I don't know how I should dissect what he wrote... i mean was he so bored of me? can he NOT spell?... w.e. love him

Robert Venturi

2009-06-02T00:09:00.003-04:00

I met him.

Backstory: Drew is working for Bob and Denise for the summer and I had the pleasure of helping him out this summer and in turn getting to stay over at the Venturis and even having the opportunity to have lunch with the couple. WOW.

yea yea he's brilliant ... Anyone can tell you that so that's why I'm here to try to explain what an awesome man Bob in MY eyes. I saw him in the bluff... cross-legged and watching Golden Girls, Bob was still extremely intimidating...absolutely hilarious too. From mumbling obscenities about annoying people... to apologizing for the wholesome neighborhood... he is such a likable guy. Well I guess architects can have souls too! Also winner of cutest couple.

And Drew can tell you how far my jaw dropped when I walked into their beautiful home. I barely breathed. Hmm lunch with them was probably the quietest I've been in my whole life. I didn't want to say anything dumb... so I didn't say anything. Dumb huh.

Shooting Up

2009-05-22T01:08:00.003-04:00

Today I went through all my posts and realized what started as a vent for all my beliefs and inspirations has now become just art so let's change it up a bit. Best current video I've watched in a while and it's about this place Insite.

Insite was designed to be accessible to injection drug users who are not well connected to health care services – men and women who use more than one drug; people who experience both addiction and mental illness; people with a history of trauma; people who are homeless, live in shelters or live in substandard housing; men and women of Aboriginal descent and people who have tried unsuccessfully in the past to beat their drug addiction.

You go in and they provide you with clean needles, a space, and supervisor. They founders of this argue that thousands of lives are saved each year b.c. there is an epidemic of diseases being spread by needle-sharing. Also they say that by luring these people into these facilities they can more easily try to counsil. This all sounds like a wacky idea and truthfully I don't know how comfortable I am with it but worth a post.

WATCH IT

Prada Marfa

2009-05-16T17:44:00.002-04:00

Store as sculpture. Back in 2005 two boys, Michael Elmgreen and Ingar Gragset, installed a Prada store in the middle of a Texas highway... aka bumfuck nowhere. Hilarious. As expected three days after its unveiling, the store was vandalised but apparently Ms Prada enjoyed the store so much that she donated new items.

and here are some of the duo's other works:

Colors of Shadow

2009-05-16T17:19:00.004-04:00

Hiroshi Sugimoto, a new favorite, has done this collection called The Colors of Shadows.

When surfaces receives light, the light effects varies according to the angle of exposure.

Selecting three distinct angles—90?, 55? and 35?—I had the walls surfaced using

traditional Japanese shikkui plaster finishing, which absorbs and reflects light most

evenly. In the morning light, the shadows play freely over the surfaces, now appearing,

now vanishing. While on rainy days, they take on a deeper, more evocative cast. I've only

just begun my observations, but already I've discovered a sublime variety in shadow

hues.

I think one of the million reasons architects where black is because color is so deemphasized or at least that's my expert knowledge after one year in architecture school. We are taught about creating a space using different shapes and manipulations. Rarely do we even mention color.

I don't know if this is why I really appreciate Sugimoto's work but I find it pretty intriguing just how many variables there are to capture and the enormous range of color that can come out of shadows in a singular space.

Gaudi

2009-05-15T12:27:00.004-04:00

I've had more time to cozy up in bookstores now that school is done and drool over one person t the next. My man of the hour is Gaudi. I've glanced at him from time to time but over the past few days I've fallen in love. His works are exactly where I envisioned my future movie to take place.

So this is the Sagrada Familia for those who don't know located in Barcelona. I wish I could find some more close-ups because the facades are excellent. This has been in construction for well over a hundred years now and isn't exected to be completed for another 25 or so years but man... aint she a beaut!

Read about him yourself. I need to go play in the sun. Pretty much he was a man who very much kept to himself and was uber dedicated to his work... like every other success story I suppose.

Dilbert

2009-04-29T03:29:00.002-04:00

Separated at Birth

2009-04-29T03:22:00.006-04:00

Libeskind

Zaha Hadid

Gehry

Jean Nouvel

Johnson

Again I emphasize how much mirage studio 7 has changed my life!

link

Archigram

2009-04-29T03:06:00.002-04:00

After all the research I did for my final project, I could probably write a slew of posts just on kinetic architecture but this one I thought was especially interesting: Archigram

According to wikipedia:

Archigram was an avant-garde architectural group formed in the 1960s - based at the Architectural Association, London - that was futurist, anti-heroic and pro-consumerist, drawing inspiration from technology in order to create a new reality that was solely expressed through hypothetical project

(already at this point I loved it... futurist... anti-hero... avant-garde... i'm there!)

This was their most famous project that reminded me of my final project as well. Sure this is all far out and most likely will never happen blah blah but man is this cool or what?

The Walking City, Ron Herron, 1964

The Walking City is constituted by intelligent buildings or robots that are in the form of giant, self contained living pods that could roam the cities. The form derived from a combination of insect and machine and was a literal interpretation of Corbusier's aphorism of a house as a machine for living in. The pods were independent, yet parasitic as they could 'plug in' to way stations to exchange occupants or replenish resources. The citizen is therefore a serviced nomad not totally dissimilar from today's executive cars. The context was perceived as a future ruined world in the aftermath of a nuclear war.

bloggy time

2009-04-29T00:54:00.005-04:00

Firstly, please allow me to gloat on how well critiques went. No bodily fluids were spilt and nothing blew up in my face. The critics were genuinely intrigued by what I had to say and when it was done I felt great.

Well in related news, one of my critics was none other than Jeana Ripple, hailing from Studio Gang. DROOL ! Come to think of it under the guidance of my studio professor I'd had the opportunity to have some direct contact with some of the "sexiest" firms ... and for that I'm thankful. Anyhow, I mention this not only to gloat but to note the similarity between my project and their firm's Starlight Theatre

OK so this doesn't roll break into 30 different pieces nor does it 'teeter' away, but it is modular and transformative. This picture begins to show the roof which folds open.

____________

Another project similar to mine I suppose would be the Prada transformer. It's a building that rolls from one facade to the other to best suit its need for that moment.

After seeing this kind of sensational architecture day in and day out I suppose it's going to be difficult to work again at a firm that sticks to designing cookie cutter houses.

Quick Music Blip

2009-04-23T16:20:00.002-04:00

Again I repeat I am in final mode BUT needed to thumbs-up the music that has been pulling me through

1. Joanna Newsom... beautiful voice

2. Black Moth Super Rainbow.... my new favorite of the moment and just real good feel good music

3. Dan Deacon... awesomely Animal Collective divided by two plus some pizazz...

Now I can render in peace.

Lawyers, Prostitutes, Architects

2009-04-22T12:30:00.002-04:00

Nabbed from MirageStudio7:

Whenever you see the word “Client” in something to do with building, you know there just has to be an architect involved because no one else in the building game ever refers to anyone as “clients.” It is such a strange word, isn’t it? In a shop you are a customer, on a train you are a passenger, in a hospital you are a patient, in a class you are a student, in the economy at large you’d be a consumer. But client? The only people who have clients are lawyers, architects and prostitutes, all of whom have to live with the reputation that they are simply out to screw you. Only the prostitute is honest about it.”

New Favorite Blog

2009-04-22T01:05:00.000-04:00

http://blog.miragestudio7.com/

in the middle of finals... no time to blog... but there's something cool

Reuben Margolin

2009-04-15T11:31:00.003-04:00

Much of this past week was spent researching kinetic architecture and sculpture for my final project. Reuben Margolin is one person that really stuck out and someone I feel the need to share with everyone I know. His kinetic sculptures emulate waves and are these magical beings that put you in a daze.

His Portfolio

The Video that made me fall in love. It's really worth a watch!

Lastly MAKE: television ... a new obsession

Earthworms and Rain

2009-04-15T04:33:00.002-04:00

Walking home at 4:30am after rainshower I noticed hundreds of earthworms that lay in on the pavement aerating. It rains several times a week in Pittsburgh so perhaps this is just the first time I'm noticing it, but it's incredible looking at all these slimy things in your way. Next time I'll try to take a picture.

God= Architect

2009-04-14T13:09:00.001-04:00

God=Architect
Me= Architect

Me= God?

Jim Henson Company

2009-04-13T21:03:00.004-04:00

Wow now that I'm in my blogging fury it makes me wonder how I could have gone so long without the expulsion of all the great things I've been seeing.

Henry introduced me to (forcefed me) Mirrormask, perhaps one of the most magical movies I've seen in my entire life. And unlike The Fall, this one actually has a developed plot while still remaining captivating frame to frame droool. I've watched it multiple times now and it has even been the inspiration for portions of my final project. That good.

one of my fave scenes

Then to follow up I watched The Labryinth which er... has less of a plot but David Bowie plays a dark lord of the gnomes which is great. He randomly breaks into song and evil laughter which makes it work watching I suppose. Next up: Dark Crystal

Behind the Times

2009-04-13T20:36:00.004-04:00

Surely I'm behind the times but the artist of the week: Joanna Newsom.

I stumbled upon her when I was researching kinetic sculptures on youtube here.

Her voice is so enchanting and reminded me somewhat of Bjork I suppose. Ga so enchanting.

Hipsters

2009-04-13T13:25:00.008-04:00

I haven't updated in a bit so here goes: In the past two weeks or so many many great artists have been in Pittsburgh lecturing and I had the opportunity to see them all!

1. Marjane Satrapi, aka Ms. Persepolis, came to talk at Carnegie Music Hall and she was what I expect Zaha Hadid to be- a rebellious chainsmoking diva. She explained her life/graphic novel and I guess I didn't learn much new but still cool to meet the person that wrote such a book.

2. Spike Lee oppositely wasn't such a joy to see. I don't know what I expected but this punk was a fresh condescending reincarnation of the Rev Al Sharpton. He had me so angry just because he was soo icky. When a fan asked him a question about a movie he simply replied "Don't you have netflix? Watch the movie. Next question.". What a little diva.

3. Andrew Bird was scrumptious. On top of his good looks and oozing charisma, he was a pretty awesome musician. One minute he was pizzicato on the violin, the next arco at full strength... then all of a sudden he'll whip out an electric guitar and start strumming away all while using that beautiful voice of his. Droolworthy performance.

4. Aaron Betsky, architect extraordinare was pretty interesting as well. I had to leave his lecture early to go to Satrapi's but I stayed long enough to hear his extended comparisons of architecture to sex. Sexchitecture- very nice.

Matt Hoyle

2009-03-24T18:14:00.005-04:00

Matt Hoyle, photographer extraordinaire, has some really great portraits on his online porfolio.

Shadyside Steeler

2009-03-24T02:28:00.002-04:00

I was flipping through old issues of Dwell when I stumbled upon this article about a house in Shadyside Pittsburgh which is minutes away from me. Anyone feel like doing some stalking?

Paula Scher

2009-03-24T00:33:00.006-04:00

This is a project she was commisioned for in Pittsburgh. She was asked to revamp the Northside and make a logo that represents the area. Scher thought this to be silly and responded by suggesting these installations throughout Northside beneath these underpasses- like many art installations that act as a charm bracelet uniting the area.
level 5 at Bloomberg Headquarters

Scher's branding of Lincoln Center

I recently saw a lecture on Paula Scher where she emphasized "serious play" in design and have since seen much of her work about. The iconic citibank symbol that she developed is just one of the things I keep on passing as well as a few things within Pittsburgh of all places. Scher seems to have quite a few projects based in Pittsburgh so I thought I'd give her a shout out here. I admire her work and find it interesting how she relates graphic design to architecture. You can find her firm(Pentagram) and work here.

The Charm Bracelet

Lara Stone by Steven Klein

2009-03-24T00:12:00.004-04:00

Droolworthy pics via Stacey from February's French Vogue.

The Fucking Weather

2009-03-19T00:40:00.001-04:00

Props to Dan for this. For when you want to know how the weather IS.

Sounds Like My Kind of Game

2009-03-18T01:49:00.002-04:00

Women tear off the clothes of men as they play huranga in Dauji temple near the northern Indian town of Mathura March 12, 2009. Huranga is a game played between men and women a day after the Holi festival during which men drench women with liquid colors and women tear off the clothes of the men. (REUTERS/K.K. Arora)

via The Globe's Big Picture

link

Puma Campaign/ DROGA5

2009-03-18T00:47:00.003-04:00

MUST watch this video til the end. WOW! Puma's new commercial for their "light" shoes. Again I'm no billboard, but this was neato.

*update

I did a little more research and Droga5, the agency who made this ad is also the one that did the Tap Project ad that I liked so much. Also I read their mission statement on their "about" page and they have some simple and honorable things to say.

some more info on their campaign

Synthesized Happiness

2009-03-18T00:28:00.004-04:00

This goes on the list of one of my fave tedtalks of all time. Dan Gilbert, "the expert of happiness" talks about how there is no difference between regular happiness and synthesized happiness. One of the first examples he gives is that a person who has a limb amputated and one who has won the lottery have equal amounts of happiness in one year's time. People who have tragic things happen to them or miss out on great opportunities often say that it was for the best or they're happy it happened to them when logically it doesn't seem possible. I guess I can only explain so much of the lecture and the rest you really just have to see but he made me think a lot I suppose about how much of my happiness is real is how much is just synthesized (though the entire point of his lecture was about how one is not superior over the other).

Harder Better Faster Stronger (remix 10,000)

2009-03-18T00:24:00.002-04:00

You can remix you own version... I stayed here way longer than I should have.

Diirty Jerz

2009-03-18T00:12:00.004-04:00

Camden is exactly what I don't what people to think of when they think of Jersey BUT I thought this was cool. This photographer Vergaga looks at buildings in Camden that are joined under a single roof but have one side that has been abandoned and another that continues to be inhabitated. Read the site for more info. Super eerie.

Very Leggy

2009-03-13T21:35:00.004-04:00

Mullins modeling "cheetah legs"

the best picture I could find of the Alexander McQueen hand carved solid ash wood legs with the integrated boots on the far right... DIVINE!

I can go on forever about Alexander McQueen he makes the most insane clothes and I should probably dedicate an entire post altogether to him, but this post is really about Aimee Mullins. Mullins had both her legs amputated at age one because of a rare disorder and went on to study at Georgetown living her normal life when she decided she wanted to start track and field. In her first race she beat the existing record (using prosthetics) against able-bodied competitors.

Sure I've heard many many Oprah stories of all these great people that overcome disabilities and this wouldn't have prompted me to post an entry if it weren't for her interesting thoughts on prosthetics. She has 12 pairs from flesh tone silicon to clear plastic-based ones. She likes to change her height from 5'8" to 6'1" and is now a "motivational speaker" (i hate those). Anyway she thinks of prosthetics not as something that hinders her daily life but something that gives her endless options. If nothing else man those legs are gorgeous!

Dent May & Magnificent Ukulele

2009-03-11T23:54:00.004-04:00

Shout out to Annie who just sent me an article from the Boston Globe about this new talent: Dent May- yes... he plays the ukulele. Yes, he sympathizes with me.

"I do think the ukulele deserves to be taken more seriously," he says. "It's misunderstood, but that's one of the reasons I wanted to play it in the first place."

And he gets super props b.c. he's signed up the same record company as Animal Collective.

Summation: Ukulele rocks. Dent May rocks. Boston Globe... rocks.

Sarah... she's beautiful on the inside

2009-03-11T00:39:00.002-04:00

www.sarahjessicaparkerlookslikeahorse.com

I think Sarah looks like a doll I really do.... but according to Max and the mastermind of this site I'm wrong. Not gonna lie though... this site is genius

Love in the 1st Person

2009-03-10T21:20:00.003-04:00

I stumbled upon Matt Eich whilst surfing MediaStorm (multimedia publications of narratives click, click). I was pleasantly surprised to learn his alma mater is Ohio University.

Did a little more digging into his personal business and found more dirt. Eich was featured in a PopPhoto article as an emerging artist in 2007, won College Photographer of the Year in 2006, and he most recently won SportsShooter.com's Student Photographer of the Year in February. He has shot for Fader, HotShoe and you can check out his website here.

Big thangs, big thangs.

New Museum

2009-03-09T00:24:00.004-04:00

Yesterday before I saw the great one, I went to the New Museum with the sis. I was quite excited because I had seen it before in some architecture publication. The exhibits themselves thougha were lacking. Not only are only three of the floors for art, the pieces they chose weren't so thought-provoking or impressive. What I liked the most about the New Museum I suppose was the building itself. The stairs were on the outer edges of the buildings and were these long dramatic spaces with calculated spots of illumination. Here are some pics:

I guess it's pretty tricky to capture what it was like to be in that space but believe me it was cool.

This was one one of the views from the sky room aka the 7th floor.
Here's another

And that's Michel or the clearest pic I could find from yesterday. Bummer but I'll have him in my heart always :D

MICHEL GONDRY IN THE FLESH

2009-03-08T03:43:00.004-04:00

I saw the man himself in a New York screening of Tokyo! Pics/video are to come soon but so in daze that I needed to blog it. He came, introduced the film, and answered a few questions and yes I could hardly contain myself. He was just as I suspected- very dry biting humor and ooo that irresistible french accent. Michel made fun of the whole question asking blah blah itself and at one point compared Americans to pieces of poop. He talked... I swooned... it was great.

And if you're wondering Tokyo! was brilliant. All stories were so truly captivating and bizzare. I don't want to spoil it for anyone but from a woman who can turn into a chair.... to a green pantsuit wearing leprachaun-esque sewer monster ...unforgettable.

Penned Madness

2009-03-05T14:55:00.002-05:00

These guys are based in Florida and have this blog that releases new of songs mostly mixes or beats that are absolutley FREE! Pretty decent. Here.

Marry ME: Barry Schwartz

2009-03-05T14:47:00.002-05:00

This is guy was my favorite TED lecturer to date. He talks a lot about the "right thing"... how logic and morality are connected. Here is one of his lectures (though the one I saw was a podcast). Maybe it's just something I'm particularly interested in but loved it.

Mirror Mirror

2009-02-26T01:20:00.002-05:00

Mathematician Andrew Hicks makes cool mirrors like these using algorithms and all that good stuff to make it possible to do things such as read text in mirrors in the right way and look at certain perspectives or ranges. Pretty sweet.

More info

Sliding House

2009-02-26T01:08:00.003-05:00

The first time I saw this sliding house I didn't give it a second thought, thinking 'oh it's just a silly idea... a gimmick at best". Then I saw the video of the house actually "sliding" its skin on and off and it was enchanting. And beyond the enchantment its review by inhabitat impressed me.

watch the video

Woodshop Xtreme

2009-02-18T17:15:00.004-05:00

Wow this man is a beast with wood. Del Short makes this crazy contraptions that are all wood and work too well.

I just came minutes ago from woodshop so know firsthand the difficulties of working with wood so seeing this mechanism makes me drool.

Like what you hear?

2009-02-16T18:50:00.004-05:00

pretty accurate.

FREE MUSIC!!

2009-02-16T03:05:00.003-05:00

I'm a fan of Stereogum and steal their free downloads whenever possible so here's a link to their latest playlist of anti-valentines day songs:

http://stereogum.com/archives/mp3/stereogums-antivalentines-day-mix_052581.html

AND

I've decided to start posting links to Stacey's mixes that she so kindly sends me (they're only available for downloading for a limited time so get cracking!)

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=WHN2J8G1

Why Do These Exist?

2009-02-16T02:55:00.004-05:00

Since knowing I have a blog of my own, people have been showing me blogs that they stumble upon on their own and would know I would like. Yes these have all made me chuckle in one way or another so I'll need to share

This will be a list that continues to grow :

http://www.unnecessaryquotes.com/

Funny blog of just its namesake- unnecessary quotation marks... such as at my school's local eatery which has a sign that reads something along the lines of:

Please tell us if you're using a block "THANK YOU"

http://stapleroftheweek.blogspot.com/

stapler of this week

http://www.dullestblog.com/

self-explanatory wow

We Have Decided Not To Die

2009-02-15T11:09:00.002-05:00

Daniel Askill is the man. His newest short film is stunning and captures three rituals- birth, between, and rebirth in his usual awesomeness. Watch here!

Animals Like to Get High

2009-02-11T01:57:00.002-05:00

Apparently drugs and addiction aren't only a human thing?

more info

Rapex

2009-02-11T01:54:00.004-05:00

Rapex is "an anti-rape condom" that is to be worn by women that are traveling long distances along or in unsafe areas I suppose. It was created after a woman said something along the lines of "gee wouldn't it be nice if I just had teeth down there"... WTF?

but best part of the site:

Can this be worn during masturbation?

No, not at all.

more info

Obama Weed

2009-02-11T01:41:00.003-05:00

Current.com has almost become an advocate for the legalization of weed in recent weeks. Almost every other article posted seemed to be about how legalizing weed would better our nation and pull us out of this economic crisis. Though I question the validity of all this... it made me smile to see this:

Yea that's right... a strain of marijuana named after the chief himself. Stolen straight off of perez.

Every Image Has A Sound

2009-02-10T21:35:00.002-05:00

This sounds production company has made this ingenious ads that are accompanied by sounds. Watch this video for demonstrations.

This Is Why You're Fat

2009-02-10T01:41:00.003-05:00

This site is dedicated to documenting the most deliciously fattening foods and boy is it fun to browse! And for those of you who are left baffled my the last picture, it's a turbaconucken duuh. (chicken inside duck inside turkey wrapped in bacon)

Tokyo!

2009-02-08T23:43:00.003-05:00

I love film and I love all things trippy so.... out comes a new trippy film made by three of the best directors ever- Michel Gondry, Leos Carax, and Bong Joon Ho. Look at this trailer! Maybe this is too hyped up but I am psyched!

Green Gojira!

2009-02-08T17:22:00.002-05:00

I don't know the first thing about metal but this made me chuckle so it was a necessary post. Gojira, a progressive death metal band was playing in the background in studio and they don't sing about ... the things I would think they would sing about. Here'a Global Warming for ya:

Gojira Global Warming Lyrics:
Four hundred thousend years ago
They came from outer space
And gave us life here
We are taking everything for granted
I don't think we should do this now
And when I see the smoke all around
I feel like I'm now
From humankind down there
I feel like glaciers are my eyes
And mountains are my head
My heart is ocean
And I feel all alone
Because everybody's wrong
I feel the living
What is this thing that we call hate
And that's inside of me
Get out of here!

A world is down
And none can rebuild it
Disabled lands are evolving
My eyes are shut, a vision is dying
[ Find more Lyrics at www.mp3lyrics.org/YIc ]
My head explodes
And I fall in disgrace

I hold my inner child within
And tell him not to cry
"don't fear the living"
One day you will stand as a king
And now fear can erase
This light below us
Each one of us is now engaged
This secret we all have
This truth is growing
And as a warrior I have to fight
I can already feel
The love I'll discover

I had this dream, our planet surviving
The guiding stars always growing
And all the worlds
The fates all the countries
They're all rebuilding at the same time
I never fell and always believed in
We could evolve and get older
Open your eyes and let all this flow in
Now see a now hope is growing inside

We will see our children growing

More Eco-Graffiti

2009-02-08T14:14:00.004-05:00

Similar to Tokodi, Neozoon does urban art but instead of moss or plants, uses old fur coats. coo

Ferrets: the pursuit of excellence!

2009-02-06T21:55:00.002-05:00

This is probably the most bizzare and hilarious movies I've seen in a long while. And according to Christie, one of the crazy ferret owners is a cmu employee. must watch!

link

POST 100!: Defab gone crazy

2009-02-06T21:51:00.002-05:00

New restaurant in Boston called BanQ just reminded me of IDM.

more info

Jockstraps

2009-02-04T01:42:00.003-05:00

It was getting a little too intellectual there so I decided to add this spurt of jockstraps. These are the work of Colin Corbett and still pretty damn cool.

more info

Fluxus and Yoko Ono

2009-02-04T01:26:00.003-05:00

Yea yea hate on Yoko BUT Grapefruit is too good. I know so because an year after learning about it I still remember how it made me smile or giggle. It's a collection of koans that are delicious

A kōan (公案; Chinese: gōng-àn, Korean: gong'an, Vietnamese: công án) is a story, dialogue, question, or statement in the history and lore of Chán (Zen) Buddhism, generally containing aspects that are inaccessible to rational understanding, yet may be accessible to intuition.

I often think that I speak completely in koans and that's why I decided to post this today. What I say always makes sense in my head and if you really listen is coherent but if you only hear the words it doesn't. Wow even that was a confusing jumble.

example from Grapefruit:

SNOW PIECE

Think that snow is falling. Think that snow is falling

everywhere all the time. When you talk with a person, think

that snow is falling between you and on the person.

Stop conversing when you think the person is covered by snow.

1963^[13]

It's all silly little ideas like that some better some worse that I absolutely love. I also like the loose genre of fluxus b.c. it makes me laugh... i like to laugh.

Seasteading

2009-02-04T01:18:00.002-05:00

A guy by the name of Patri Friedman is proposing a new way of living: seasteading. He wants to create colonies in the ocean based on his libertarian ideas. This is a super interesting article that investigates similar projects that have failed in the past and how Friedman suggests his will work differently from the rest. Fyi Friedman comes from a long history of academia.... his dad was a well-known libertarian law professor and his grandfather a nobel prize winner.

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Religulous

2009-02-04T01:06:00.005-05:00

Bill Maher is just a lovable guy. And as Eudora will be glad to know, he's a comedian oozing of charisma. His new movie Religulous shows religion in modern times. Richard Dawkinds did a similar thing in The Enemy of Reason but he was scathing, condescending and just awful. Maher takes you across the world the to things you wouldn't see everyday such as the a creationist museum in Missouri or a hole in the wall church for truckers. Informative and hilarious- my favorite combo.

Tap Project

2009-02-02T23:06:00.003-05:00

If you haven't heard of Unicef's Tap Project yet, listen up. The deal is Unicef designates a week (world water week in march) where instead of getting tap water for free at your local restaurant, you would be charged a dollar and that money will be collected and used to provide water for those in need all over the world. Other than just raising money, a main point of this project is to raise awareness of how valuable clean drinkable water is in the world. Our school's chapter of Amnesty is trying to set it up in Pittsburgh. When it was first run it was only New York and a few hundred restaurants participated, raising a few hundred thousand dollars but now major cities across the nation are participating and hopefully raising even more.

Alison Brady

2009-02-02T22:57:00.002-05:00

I love all things grotesque and weird so it comes as no surprise that I loved the photography of Alison Brady. I chose the pg-13 pics and will the leave the rest up for you folks to research.

Coffee Ground Printer

2009-02-02T22:49:00.003-05:00

That's right...it's a printer that uses your leftover coffee grinds! And its human powered eliminating electricity as well. I dont know how easy this would be to use... but if it works cool!

link

P.S. 1 Unveiled

2009-02-02T22:43:00.002-05:00

P.S. 1 has announced this year's winner for the Young Architects Program.... MOS scored with their "afterparty" plan that addresses the current economic situation, using recycled/thatch materials. It won't be open to the public until June but looks neat.

link

RUBIK'S Cube solver!

2009-02-02T22:37:00.002-05:00

So I've always been amazing by the rubik's cube and have tried and failed several so when I saw this new iphone application that solves rubik's cubes I was stunned. Maybe it's just me... but how cool?

IT SOLVES IT FOR YOU !

Year in Pictures

2009-01-29T03:31:00.002-05:00

Uh-oh, I think Boston's Big Picture has a rival: Spiegel... Stunning pictures of real stuff.

The Pedestrian Project

2009-01-29T02:43:00.002-05:00

The Pedestrians performing outside the Metropolitan Museum in New York City

The Pedestrian Project consists of several performers wearing entirely black custom-made costumes modeled after the generic images of men, women, and children seen on public signs. Mimicking the lives of everyday people, the roaming sculptural forms inspire the imaginations of onlookers, who often find themselves mesmerized as these familiar icons assume busy lives of their own.

The Pedestrian Project has performed internationally, sponsored by organizations and institutions which include the Museum of Modern Art in New York City; The High Museum in Atlanta,Georgia; The Krannert Art Museum in Champaign, Illinois; AVE Festival in Arnhem, The Netherlands; Waves Festival in Voordingborg, Denmark; The Prague Quadrennial in Czech Republic; Kunst Art show in Frankfurt, Germany; ACC Galerie in Weimar, Germany; American Fine Arts New York City; “Intro-Graz-Spection” Art Show/Event in Graz, Austria; 2001 International Sculpture Conference in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania; Halifax Arts Festival, Halifax,Nova Scotia; Utah Arts Festival in Salt Lake City; New Haven Festival of Arts and Ideas; PS 122 Performance Space,New York City; and the Detroit Arts Festival in Detroit, Michigan. Often the “Peds” show up for political events, in support of (or against) issues on the table. Some of the events Yvette's group has participated in include the Annual AIDS Walk NY; World Aids Day; Earth Day New York; the Brooklyn Incinerator Hearings; and Williamsburg Walks, Brooklyn, New York.

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